Quality Grade:
The GeneSTAR® Quality Grade is a DNA genetic marker panel test offered by Bovigen LLC, which identifies the presence of four major genes associated with Quality Grade and marbling. The third and fourth markers in this panel were released as of February 15, 2007. This Panel Test includes TG5, which was the first gene marker test available to the beef industry. Each of the four gene markers in this panel have been found to be highly associated with quality grade in multiple evaluations across multiple breeds of cattle. Moreover, this panel of markers is the only marbling or quality grade test to have passed an independent validation by the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium.

GeneSTAR® Tenderness was the first multi-marker single trait test commercially available to the beef industry. In its current form, it combines three markers from two different and independent genes.

GeneSTAR® Tenderness identifies animals that are more likely to produce tender cuts of beef. GeneSTAR® Tenderness is a DNA marker test for two important genes, Calpastatin & Calpain, involved in the post-mortem tenderization process of beef. Animals carrying the favorable forms of the genes have been found to significantly reduce the proportion of Â“toughÂ” eating experiences. The impact of these two genes on tenderness has been well documented for quite some time. However, through the use of DNA tests first available from Bovigen, there is now an effective and efficient tool available to use this knowledge in making breeding and management decisions.

Tenderness:
Tenderness is typically evaluated in research environments through the use of Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) tests. Collection and evaluation of this type of data is time consuming and expensive, which makes it difficult to evaluate this trait in breeding animals at a young age or on a large scale. One of the key benefits of DNA technology is the ability to provide genetic information at a young age. This is especially true on traits relating to carcass merit

Feed Efficiency:
GeneSTAR® Feed Efficiency consists of four markers which together identify as much as a 15% difference in daily feed consumption with no affect on other traits like Average Daily Gain, Carcass Weight, Quality Grade or Yield Grade

Producers can use the GeneSTAR® Feed Efficiency test to identify up to a $50 difference in feed cost between animals when ration costs are at $165/ton

The GeneSTAR® Feed Efficiency Panel is based on discovery and validation work on thousands of cattle utilizing the trait of Net Feed Intake, sometimes also called residual feed intake or net feed efficiency

(The above information is from the Bovigen website at http://www.bovigen.com)